Yao Ming scored 20 points in his first appearance of the exhibition season, but the Houston Rockets absorbed a 96-86 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics. 
 
The 7-5 Yao had sat out Houston's first two preseason games as he recovered from a busy summer that included leading China to a gold medal and an Olympic berth in last month's FIBA Asian Qualifying Tournament.

Last season, Yao took the NBA by storm but was edged for Rookie of the Year by Amare Stoudemire of Phoenix. Yao often deferred to guards Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, and new coach Jeff Van Gundy would like his center to get the ball a bit more.

Yao made 8-for-10 shots and 4-for-4 free throws and also pulled down 10 rebounds in 30 minutes.

Rashard Lewis scored 19 points to lead Seattle. Lewis scored 35 points in the club's exhibition season-opening win over Houston on Wednesday.

Rookie Richie Frahm added 13 points for Seattle, which played without rookie point guard Luke Ridnour, guard Jon Barry and forward Calvin Booth.

Francis scored 19 points and Mobley added 14 for the Rockets. Bostjan Nachbar, Houston's 2002 first-round pick, scored six points in 18 minutes.

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